I think the best way to see Dresden
is to take a day, or even a few hours, and wander around the city and along the
peaceful river Elbe.

For me, Dresden
is about quiet contemplation of what took place there.The scars are still on the surface- more so
than other popular cities in the West.

Staring at the blackened buildings and monuments you can’t
help but think about the World Wars.Before
WWII Dresden was an arts and cultural center, even referred to as ‘the
jewel.’The sad fact is, this place
really didn’t need to be bombed, it did have some manufacturing but it was filled
with civilians and as a slap in the face, this jewel by the river was destroyed.

In 2006 I spent a few nights in Dresden on a business trip and I remember it
being much quieter than it is now- which is a positive sign for it's development.I remember empty lots of rubble, chain link
fences and bulldozers.Now there are
tourist restaurants, shops and a bustling town center.

As Dresden
repairs itself it’s aiming to attract young people and students.It just so happened that my cousin Shane was
doing an exchange at one of the Universities.

This meeting was perfectly serendipitous because Shane is
the son of my Uncle Charles, who visited me in Munich six years earlier.

My Uncle was doing business in Belgium at the time and went out of
his way to come see me.He took me to
dinner and spoke to me as one adult to another.I felt so grown up and had so many questions.He was so refreshingly honest with me about
how difficult yet rewarding it is to be a parent, and how important it is to
travel.

I’ll never forget his advice or how much fun we had that
night.I had to put him in a cab after
the trademark Jameson shots came out- what can I say I was in my 20’s?Still he hung in there like a champ and I was
proud to have him as an Uncle and a friend.

So taking Shane to lunch was something I insisted on, even
though Matt and I were yet to be alone a week into our Around the World
Honeymoon.

I’m a traveler and a gypsy but at heart- I hate to admit it-
I’m a home body.Because family means everything
to me, I can still function so far away from them. The physical distance is enormous but I carry
them with me in every waking moment and often in my dreams at night.They are in me.In my accent, my style, gestures, attitude
and all the experiences that make me the person I am today.

My biggest wish right now is that my family and friends
understand that I haven’t left them behind for another life, but that I’ve just
taken all of us into a bigger life than we once imagined.

Monday, September 24, 2012

The Honeymoon Odyssey: Dresden

I think the best way to see Dresden
is to take a day, or even a few hours, and wander around the city and along the
peaceful river Elbe.

For me, Dresden
is about quiet contemplation of what took place there.The scars are still on the surface- more so
than other popular cities in the West.

Staring at the blackened buildings and monuments you can’t
help but think about the World Wars.Before
WWII Dresden was an arts and cultural center, even referred to as ‘the
jewel.’The sad fact is, this place
really didn’t need to be bombed, it did have some manufacturing but it was filled
with civilians and as a slap in the face, this jewel by the river was destroyed.

In 2006 I spent a few nights in Dresden on a business trip and I remember it
being much quieter than it is now- which is a positive sign for it's development.I remember empty lots of rubble, chain link
fences and bulldozers.Now there are
tourist restaurants, shops and a bustling town center.

As Dresden
repairs itself it’s aiming to attract young people and students.It just so happened that my cousin Shane was
doing an exchange at one of the Universities.

This meeting was perfectly serendipitous because Shane is
the son of my Uncle Charles, who visited me in Munich six years earlier.

My Uncle was doing business in Belgium at the time and went out of
his way to come see me.He took me to
dinner and spoke to me as one adult to another.I felt so grown up and had so many questions.He was so refreshingly honest with me about
how difficult yet rewarding it is to be a parent, and how important it is to
travel.

I’ll never forget his advice or how much fun we had that
night.I had to put him in a cab after
the trademark Jameson shots came out- what can I say I was in my 20’s?Still he hung in there like a champ and I was
proud to have him as an Uncle and a friend.

So taking Shane to lunch was something I insisted on, even
though Matt and I were yet to be alone a week into our Around the World
Honeymoon.

I’m a traveler and a gypsy but at heart- I hate to admit it-
I’m a home body.Because family means everything
to me, I can still function so far away from them. The physical distance is enormous but I carry
them with me in every waking moment and often in my dreams at night.They are in me.In my accent, my style, gestures, attitude
and all the experiences that make me the person I am today.

My biggest wish right now is that my family and friends
understand that I haven’t left them behind for another life, but that I’ve just
taken all of us into a bigger life than we once imagined.